Alloy for use in electrolytic cell



Pateuterl July 3 1%5 aagza Ami-Z EJSE IN WAEC'EROLYTIC CELL Donald W.Forsgren and Waldo W. Fors gren, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignors to U.S. Metallic Magnesium Company, .Salt Lake City, Utah No Drawing.Application September 17, 1943,

Serial No. 502,827-

ll Clalm. (CE; 15-169) Our invention relates to the reduction of andproduction of magnesium metal utilizing analloy of lead, bismuth, andmercury as an inter-phase surface tension, permits or causes the surfacescum to be drawn inwardly toward the worm or agitator of the cell inwhich it is used passing in the-direct reduction of magnesium frombrines and the like in electrolytic cells as already set 'out by us inour copending application for patent,

Serial No. 454,278, filed August 10, 1942, in which we disclosed: theuse of'mercury as the interphase medium. The benefits. derived from thisparticular amalgam is that the amalgam has a lower surface tension thanthat of the system formerly used of mercury and magnesium. When the scumwhich usually and ordinarily forms on mercury in an electrolytic celland which is chiefly a compound MgHga forms on the alloy, containingmercury, lead, and bismuth, it is not retarding to the action as thisalloy having a lower through the cell freely thereby increasing. theefllciency of the cell and consequently the production of the magnesiummetal. 2

The alloy consists of 12.4% lead; muth, and the balance of mercury.

Having thus described our invention we desire to secure by LettersPatent and claim:

A new alloy for use in electrolytic cells for use in the production ofmagnesium metal'comprising 12.4% lead, 13.02% bismuth and 74.58%mercury.

DONALD WJFORSGREN. WALDO W. FOBBGREN.

9.02% r bis-

